H. B. 2062
(By Delegates Douglas and Faircloth)
[Introduced January 18, 1995; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions.]
A BILL to amend chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article twenty-one,
relating to allowing county commissions to enact ordinances
to combine county emergency ambulance service authorities
with county fire boards.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by
adding thereto a new article, designated article twenty-one, to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 21. COMBINATION OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES AND
COUNTY FIRE BOARD BY COUNTY COMMISSION.
§7-21-1. Combined ambulance and fire services.
A county commission may, by ordinance, terminate the board
of the emergency ambulance authority and the county fire board
and combine the membership of the board of the emergency
ambulance service authority with the membership of the county
fire board to create an emergency ambulance and fire services
board composed of twelve members as provided in this article.
§7-21-2. Procedure.
An ordinance to create an emergency ambulance and fire
services board shall include a provision that the county
commission shall appoint not less than one half the members of
the combined board from the membership of each of the former
emergency ambulance service authority and the former county fire
board. Effective with the appointment of the combined board, the
management and control of the operations, business and affairs
of the former entities shall be lodged in the new board.
Appointments to the combined board shall be made so that
approximately one third of the total number of members appointed
shall serve a term of one year, one third of the members shall be appointed for a term of two years and one third of the members
shall be appointed for a term of three years. Members may be
reappointed at the expiration of their original terms and for one
additional term. As the term of each appointee expires, the
successor shall be appointed for a term of three years. The
number of members representing each participating government
shall be as agreed upon from time to time by the governing bodies
of the participating governments. Each member of the board shall
have one vote on all matters coming before it. Any individual
who is a resident of, or member of the governing body of any
participating government is eligible to serve as a member of the
board. The bylaws and standards of operation of the combined
board shall be submitted to, and approved by, the state fire
commission and county commission.
One county commissioner, chosen by the county commission,
shall serve as ex officio member of the board.
§7-21-3. Powers and authority.
All of the powers' duties and authority previously vested in
the emergency ambulance service authority and the county fire
board shall be transferred to, and shall be exercised by, the combined board as determined by county ordinance.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow county
commissions to enact ordinances to combine county emergency
ambulance service authorities with county fire service boards.
The bill also transfers authority and responsibility for fire and
ambulance services to the new board.
This article is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.